Rack structures for dishwashing machines



y 1962 1.. L. BURKE 3,035,706

RACK STRUCTURES FOR DISK-{WASHING MACHINES Filed Mar 16, 1960 2Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

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May 1962 BURKE 3,035,706

RACK STRUCTURES FOR DISHWASHING MACHINES Filed March 15, 1960 2Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. lows L55 Bus/:5,

GZMWMM ATTORNEYS United States Patent ()filice 3,035,706 Patented May22, 1962 3,035,706 RACK STRUCTURES FOR DISHWASHING MACHINES Louis LeeBurke, Connersville, Iud., assignor to Design and ManufacturingCorporation, Connersvilie, Iud., a

corporation of Indiana Filed Mar. 16, 1960, Ser. No. 15,310 20 Claims.(Cl. 211-41) Dishwashing machines are generally of two types, ie thosehaving an opening at the side and those having an opening at the top.The tableware is supported in each type on rack structures having partsconfigured to maintain the individual items of tableware in separatedpositions so as much of their surfaces as possible is accessible towashing solutions, rinse water, and heated drying gases. It is necessarythat the tableware be supported in various superposed layers or tiers.Sometimes when the upper rack is stationary with respect to its centralvertical axis, large platters or pans in the lower rack cause spots inthe upper rack which are shielded from the wash or rinse action. In thiscase portions of the surfaces of the tableware may not be accessible tothe washing and rinsing solutions. One method of eliminating the effectof blind spots is to rotate the upper tray about its central verticalaxis during the washing or rinsing action, thus exposing each tablewarepiece in the same radial location, to an equal amount of wash or rinseliquid. In a side opening dishwashing machine, it is readily possible tomount superposed rack structures on slides in the body of the machine,the lowermost rack structure being usually slidable over the openeddoor, so that individual racks may be withdrawn and loaded or unloadedwithout detaching them from the machine. This method of mounting theracks can be utilized for either a stationary or a rotating upper rackstructure.

Such an expedient for mounting the upper rack and for exposing the lowerrack, however, is not available for the top opening dishwasher. Variousdesigns have been utilized which solve in part the problem of access tothe lower rack in a top opening machine, but none has included themounting of a rotatable upper rack structure in a top opening machine,which rack structure permits height adjustability and ready access tothe lower rack.

It is an object of this invention to provide a rack structure of suchcharacter that it will accept tableware in a plurality of layers ortiers but which does not require removal of any part of the rackstructure from the machine for loading or unloading.

It is an object of the inventon to provide an upper rack structure of acharacter which permits access to a lower rack structure from above forloading and unloading without removal of the upper rack structure fromthe machine.

It is an object of the inventon to provide a combined rack structureincluding upper and lower rack elements -in which parts of the upperrack element are movable to give access to the lower rack element fromabove without detachment and removal from the machine.

It is an object of this invention to provide a rotating upper rackstructure in a top opening dishwasher.

It is an object of this invention to provide in a top opening dishwashera rotating upper rack structure capable of being readily adjusted in itsvertical position.

These and other objects of the invention, which will be set forthhereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon readingthese specifications, are accompished by that certain construction andarrangement of parts, of which an exemplary embodiment will now bedescribed. The exemplary embodiment will be set forth in connection witha top opening dishwashing machine, it being understood, however, thatits utility is not confined thereto. Reference is made to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a top opening dishwashingmachine with parts cut away to show the interior rack structure.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of a lower rack element, omitting acentral upper extension which supports the upper rack element.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one of the sections of the upper rack element.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the combined rack structure.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective View showing the upward extension of thelower rack element and the pivoting means for a frame employed inconnection with the upper rack element.

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view with parts in section showing the top ofthe upward extension of the lower rack element.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view showing a mode of hinging thesections of the upper rack element to the frame.

Briefly, in the practice of the invention, a lower rack element isprovided having means for the engagement of tableware in separatedpositions, and also with a central upward extension. To this extension aframe is pivotally mounted for turning movement about a vertical axis ashereinafter more fully described. The upper rack element is made up of aplurality of sections which are pivoted to the frame. These sections,when empty, may be swung upwardly about a horizontal axis so as to giveaccess to the lower rack element. This access will be effective over theentire area of the lower rack element because the upper rack element ispivoted for rotary movement.

It will be understood by the skilled worker in the art that the rackelements will, as usual, be made of wire members bent to the desiredshapes and welded together. In some instances sheet metal members may beused on or in connection with the rack elements. The rack elements maybe constructed of non-oxidizing metal such as stainless steel which isleft bare; or the rack elements may be constructed of metal (usuallyferrous) wire and given a protective coating of synthetic resinousmaterial by dipping, as is also well known in the art.

FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrate an exemplary form of the preferred rackstructure of this invention. In FIG. 1 a top opening dishwashing machineis diagrammatically indicated at 1 and is shown as containing a rackstructure made up of a lower rack element 2 and an upper rack element 3.The upper rack element in FIG. 1 is indicated as constructed in twosections, one of which has been swung upwardly as at 4. It will beevident that this swinging of the upper rack section will give access tothe lower rack element for loading and unloading.

The rack elements themselves may take various forms in accordance withthe size of the dishwashing machine and the nature and amount oftableware which the racks are designed to carry. The racks will have anopen work construction so that the washing solutions, rinsing water, anddrying gases may be freely distributed throughout the interior cavity ortub of the machine. Without constituting a limitation, an exemplarylower rack element is illustrated in FIG. 2 as comprising circular wireframe mem bers 5, 6 and 7 to which certain bent wire elements 8 areattached. These bent wire members are designed to support plates,saucers, bowls, pans and sometimes cups in separated condition; andtheir particular shapes are a matter of design forming no limitation onthis invention. In some instances the members 8 may be used to connectthe circular members 5, 6 and 7 together. In other in- .stances theremay be radial members indicated at 9 which serve this function in part.In the particular embodiment, the lower rack element has four extensions10, 11 located 90 apart. These extensions cause the lower rack elementto fit into the rectangular tub of the diswashing machine and preventthe rotation thereof. They may also be so configured as to receive orassist in the support of items of tableware. As illustrated in FIG. 2,the extensions 10, 11 may have substantially radial portions 12 tyingthe circular member 5 to the circular member 6.

As is common in 'dishwashing racks, the central circular member 7 maycarry a disc 13 of perforated metal or wire mesh.

In the structure of this invention, the Wire members 9 are prolongedupwardly at the center of the lower rack element to form, first, aconical configuration 14, lying above the plate 13 and, next, anupwardly extending substantially cylindrical configuration 15. The wires9 are welded or otherwise attached to a wire ring 16a over which isclamped a metallic washer element 16 near the lower end of thecylindrical configuration, and the upper ends of the wires 9 areattached to another ring 17a at the upper end of the cylindricalconfiguration, to which ring is fastened another metallic washer 17.

A shaft member having a lower enlarged portion 18 and an upper reducedportion 18a is provided. The lower enlarged portion of the shaft extendsthrough the washers 16 and 17. Several spaced pins 19, 20 and 21 areprovided on the enlarged portion 18 of the shaft. Any one of these pins,by engaging the top surface of the washer 17, limits the downwardposition of the shaft. The washer 17 is provided with a slot 21a throughwhich pins 21 and 20 can pass. This permits adjustment of the verticalposition of the shaft, as will readily be understood. Preferably, thetop pin 19 is made longer than the slot 21 so as to determine the lowestpossible position for the shaft.

As is most clearly illustrated in FIG. 5, the shaft supports a frameconsisting of upper and lower horizontal members 22 and 23 and verticalend members 24 and 25. These may be separate members or, as shown inFIG. 5, the frame may be made as a U-shaped structure 23, 24, 25, theopen end of which is closed by the member 22. Central portions of thehorizontal members 22 and 23 are flattened as indicated at 26 and 27 andare perforated for the reception of the reduced end 18a of the shaft.The position of the frame along the axis of the shaft will be fixed bythe engagement of the lower horizontal frame .member 23 at its flattenedportion 27 with a bearing element, preferably a ball bearing 27a,supported by the shoulder formed at the juncture of the enlarged portion18 and reduced portion 18a of the shaft; and the frame will be rotatablewith respect to the shaft as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5.

The upper rack element is made up in two semi-circular sections. One ofthese sections is illustrated in plan in FIG. 3. It has semi-circularwire members 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 held together by a series of radialmembers 33. Since the upper rack sections will usually be desired in theform of trays with sides, there may be additional semicircular elements34 and 35, the outer ends of the radial elements 33 being turnedupwardly and attached to the semi-circular members as by welding. Thisis shown in FIG. 4.

The straight or diametral portion of each section of the upper rackelement will include longitudinal members 36 and 37 which can be joinedto and serve as continuations of the semi-circular members 34 and 35,and the ends of the semi-circular members 28, 29, 30 and 31 may beturned upwardly and welded to members 36 and 37. Thus there is formed asemi-circular basket of open work construction. This basket can beprovided with such upstanding wire elements 38 and 39 as may be founddesirable for the holding of cups, glasses, bowls, or such other itemsof tableware as may be desired in the upper rack element. Again, thenature of these structures forms no limitation upon the invention.

At spaced positions, each section of the upper rack element bears on itsdiametral side a pair of hinging elements indicated generally at 49 and'41 in FIG. 3. These are detailed in FIG. 7. Each comprises a straightwire portion 42 which may be welded to the diametral wires 36 and 37,and an end portion bent so as to provide a first bight 43 a second bight44, and a short straight leg 45 spaced from the portion 42. Thesehinging elements for each section are intended to engage over thehorizontal member 22 of the frame whichhas been described, and thehinging elements are so positioned that they will engage over thehorizontal frame member 22 near its ends. The upper ends of the verticalmembers 24 and 25 are prolonged, as will be evident both from FIGS. 5and 7, so that the sections of the upper rack element are essentiallyrestrained from movement in the plane of the frame. However, eithersection can be swung from a horizontal position to a vertical position,as is best shown in FIG. 1. The double bight construction of the hingingmembers gives, in effect, two pivot points; and it will be clear fromFIG. 7 that when one of the sections of the upper rack is swung to thevertical position (as is indicated at the left in FIG. 7), the frame rod22 engages in the upper bight 43 and that portion of the hinging memberwhich lies between the two bights, by engaging with the horizontal wire37 of the other section, will hold the vertical section in its upraisedposition.

When it is desired to lower the upraised section of the upper rackelement, this may be done by first pulling upwardly on it until thehorizontal rod 22 of the frame lies within the bight 44. Then the racksection may be lowered to the horizontal position. The lower horizontalrod member 23 of the frame will prevent the section swinging to anyposition below the horizontal.

Should it be desired to remove either or both of the sections of theupper rack element, this may be done easily by pulling upwardly on themwhile they lie in a horizontal position, since the upper rod 22 of theframe will then slide between the parts 42 and 45 of the hinging member.However, the convenience in use of the hinged sections of the upper rackelement is realized by swinging one or the other or both of them to thevertical position whereby access is gained to the lower rack and itscontents.

Needless to say, in the embodiment shown, the entire rack structure maybe removed from the tub of the dishwashing machine as may be requiredfor special cleaning, repair, or replacement.

Modifications may be made in the invention without departing from thespirit of it. The invention having been described in an exemplaryembodiment, what is claimed as new an desired to be secured by LettersPatent is:

l. A rack assembly for a dishwashing machine comprising a lower rackelement of openwork construction and having means for holding tablewarein an upright position, means substantially centrally located on saidlower rack element for supporting an upper rack element, and an upperrack element having sections engaging said supporting means, at leastone of said sections being swingable thereon upwardly from a horizontalposition to a vertical position in which last mentioned position saidsection will uncover and permit substantially vertical access to aportion of said lower rack element.

2. The structure claimed in claim 1 including means in connection withsaid sections of the upper rack element and the supporting meanstherefor to maintain said sections in vertical and horizontal positions.

3. The structure claimed in claim 2 wherein the supporting means forsaid upper rack element on said lower rack element includes pivotingmeans whereby said upper rack element may be turned about a verticalaxis.

4. The structure claimed in claim 3 wherein said rack elements are openWork wire structures.

5. The structure claimed in claim 3 in which said pivoting means isadjustable as to height.

6. In a rack structure for dishwashing machines, a lower rack element ofopen work construction and having means for holding tableware in anupright position, a substantially vertical shaft supported substantiallycentrally with respect to said lower rack element, .a frame pivoted tosaid shaft, and an upper rack element comprising sections at least oneof which is hinged to said frame, rotatable therewith about said shaft,and swingable with respect to said frame upwardly from a horizontalposition to a vertical position, said sections each being of open workconstruction and having means for holding tableware in a position to bewashed.

7. The structure claimed in claim 6 including means in connection withsaid frame and said section for maintaining said section both in thehorizontal and vertical positions.

8. The structure claimed in claim 6 wherein said shaft is adjustable asto height.

9. In a rack structure for dishwashing machines, a lower rack element ofopen work wire construction and comprising substantially circumferentialand substantially radial wire elements in welded union, wherein thesubstantially radial members are prolonged in the midsection of thelower rack element to extend upwardly to form a supporting means, upperand lower washershaped members attached to said prolonged wire membersin spaced relationship, a substantially vertical shaft engaged in saidwasher-shaped elements, a frame rotatably mounted on said shaft abovesaid supporting structure, and an upper rack element formed in at leasttwo sections hinged to said frame.

10. The structure claimed in claim 9 wherein said shaft is adjustable inan axial direction with respect to the supporting structure of saidlower rack element.

11. The structure claimed in claim 9 wherein said shaft carries a seriesof spaced laterally projecting pins adapted individually to rest uponthe upper one of said washer-shaped elements, said last mentionedwashershaped elements having a slot located to pass certain at least ofsaid pins whereby the vertical position of said shaft may be adjustedwith respect to the said supporting structure of the lower rack element.

12. The structure claimed in claim 11 wherein said shaft has a lowerenlarged portion, an upper reduced portion with a shoulder therebetween,and wherein said frame rests against said shoulder.

13. The structure claimed in claim 12 wherein the sections of said upperrack element are provided with means to maintain them in both horizontaland vertical positions.

14. The structure claimed in claim 12 wherein said upper rack sectionsare provided each with hinging elements and said frame is provided withan upper rod engaged by said hinging elements, said hinging elementshavin spaced nights so located that said upper frame rod will be engagedin different bights of said hinging element when its section occupiesvertical and horizontal positions there being abutment means adapted tobe en aged by the upper portions of the hinging members of an upper racksection between the bights thereof when the rack section is in avertical position to maintain it in that position.

15. The structure claimed in claim 14 wherein one of the bights of saidhinging members has an open portion permitting disengagement of itssection from said frame.

16. The structure claimed in claim 15 wherein said frame has end membersprolonged upwardly and acting in connection with the hinging members ofsaid upper rack sections to prevent substantial movement of saidsections in the plane of said frame.

17. In a rack structure for dishwashing machines, a shaft adapted to besupported in the tub of a dishwashing machine in a substantiallyvertical position substantially centrally thereof, a frame on saidshaft, and a rack element comprising sections of open work constructionand having means for holding tableware in a position to be washed, saidsections being supported by said frame and at least one of said sectionsbeing hinged to said frame and swingable upwardly from a horizontalposition to a vertical position thereon.

18. The structure claimed in claim 17 wherein said sections are two innumber, each of semi-circular shape in plan and adapted when inhorizontal position to extend across the tub of the dishwashing machinebut terminating short of the walls of said tub.

19. The structure claimed in claim 17 wherein said sections are two innumber, each section being of semicircular shape in plan, each sectionhaving about its periphery an upstanding rim, a diametrically extendingupper portion of the said rim of each section being pivoted to saidframe, a lower part of the same portion of the rim of each section beingadapted to contact said frame to prevent said sections from swingingdownwardly past the horizontal position.

20. The structure claimed in claim 19 including releasable means inconnection with said frame and said sections for maintaining saidsections in the vertical position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS879,799 Schmieder Feb. 18, 1908 1,199,770 Elphinstone Oct. 3, 19161,476,667 Wood Dec. 4, 192.3

2,897,608 Langendorf Aug. 4, 1959,

